Electric water heater



Dec. 13, 1949 c. F. T. HOOPER 2,491,266

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed May '7. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 13, 1949 c. F. T. HOOPER 2,491,266

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed May '7. 1948 liwenior Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Delaware Application May 7, 1948, Serial No. 25,635

4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvement in electric water heaters, and more particularly to means for mounting an electric heating element on the water tank of the water heater. My invention is adaptable for use in electric water heaters of the type wherein a primarily flat electric heating element is positioned in contiguous relationship with the external wall of the water tank of the water heater. The heat which emanates from such electric heating element, when energized, is transferred through the wall of the water tank to the water contents within the tank.

In electric water heaters of the prior art of the type wherein the electric heating element is positioned exteriorly of the water tank, it has been common practice to attempt to maintain the electric heating element in predetermined position by some form of band means which completely encircle the water tank. Such bands are adapted to be drawn tightly into position around the water tank by various means, such as bolt and nut means engaging flanges formed outwardly at the opposite ends of the bands; etc. and etc.

It is common practice in the art to provide the outer jacket of the electric water heater with an opening, normally closed with a removable cover. Access may be had through this opening to the means used to hold the completely encircling band tightly in place around the water tank, so that such bands may be loosened to permit access to the electric heating element for removal and replacement when necessary by reason of any inoperativeness of the heating element.

Such prior art types of holding bands which encircle the water tank have been proven to be unsatisfactory in use, because such bands, when loosened to permit removal of the heating element, may slide down the surface of the water tank, or the band connections may shift circumferentially around the water tank, with the result that the band or connections are beyond the reach of the servicemen through the opening in the outer jacket. In addition, experience has shown that the nuts, bolts, washers, screws, etc. used for holding such prior art band ho1ding means frequently drop down into the space between the outer jacket and the water tank when being removed or replaced by the serviceman due to the confinedness of the comparatively small opening in the water jacket through which the Serviceman must work.

Oneobject of my invention is to provide simplified holding means for mounting an electric heating element in predetermined position on the external wall of the water tank of an electric water heater.

Another object of my invention is to provide holding means which extend around only a segmental portion of the circumference of the water tank of the electric water heater.

Another object of my invention is to provide means integral with the water tank of the electric water heater for securing one end of said segmental holding means in fixed position on the water tank to assure that said segmental holding means always will be in predetermined position.

Another object of my invention is .to provide said segmental holding means at one end with fastening means which is releasable almost instantaneously so that one end of said segmental holding means may be released readily to permit the electric heating element to be removed and replaced quickly.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings; Fig. 1 is a small-scale elevae tion View of an electric water heater, with the external jacket thereof illustrated partly broken away to show the means for mounting the elec tric heating element on the water tank of the heater. Although, for convenience, the electric heating element is shown positioned around the top of the water tank, it is to be understood that the electric heating element may be mountedin any desired position on the water tank, and that a plurality of heating elements may be mounted in difierent positions on the water tank.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the portion of the water tank on which the electric heating element is mounted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the end of the electric heating element mounting means which is fastened to the tank.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring to said drawings; the electric water heater indicated at l in Fig. 1 is shown somewhat diagrammatically, and isof .ordinarygeneral construction including a water tank or container 2 comprised of a tubular shell having top and bottom closures, the top closure being indicated at 2a in Fig. 1. The water container 2 is provided with the customary cold water inlet and hot water outlet, the outlet being indicated at 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. The electric water heater is provided with an outer jacket 4 in spaced relation with the water container 2, with insulating material 5a between the outer jacket l and the water container 2.

The electric heating element 5 is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the tubular shell of the water tank 2. The electric heating element 5 shown is of well known construction and comprised of a sheet or sheets of non-heat conducting and insulating material 1, such as mica, which carries and supports heating element material 9 composed, usually, of an alloy of nickel and chromium, or other materials offering great resistance to the passage of an electrical current. The heating element 9 generally is formed as a wire which is spirally or otherwise wound through holes punched in the mica sheet. Of course, any of the other well known suitable forms of electric heating elements may be used.

The heating element 5 is provided with an outer layer of insulating material Ill so that the heat emanating from the heating element material 9, when energized, will be directed to and through the wall of the water tank 2 to heat the water contained therein. The electric heating element 5 is provided with electrical conductors l2 which, conveniently, are connected to a thermostatic control element and to a supply source of electric energy.

Studs [5 are integrally welded to the tubular shell of the water container 2, and the outer ends of the studs l6 are screw threaded, as indicated at in Fig. 5. The electric heating element 5 is adapted to be maintained in position in contact with the surface of the water tank 2 by means of a segmental band 2|, one end 23 of which is rigidly fastened to the studs IS. The segmental band 2| is formed preferably of galvanized iron and with the end 23 thereof formed in a bight to provide greater strength. The end 23 of the segmental band 2i is provided with holes therethrough which coincide with the studs l5, and the end 23 of the band 2! is rigidly secured to the studs I5 conveniently by means of nuts 25 and lock washers 26. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4; the electric heating element 5 is provided with a series of lugs 2? which are adapted to slidingly engage the opposite longitudinal edges of the segmental band 2! to enable the electric heating element 5 to be readily and facilely positioned and held on the band 2!. Although I have shown the guide lugs Zll formed as part of the heating element 5, it is obvious that such guide lugs may be formed as part of the segmental band 2 I.

A trunk type box latch 35 of well known construction is rigidly mounted on the opposite end 3| of the segmental band 2|. segmental band H is formed conveniently in a bight to provide greater strength, and the latch 38 is mounted on a metal plate 22 which protrudes through a slot in the lapped end 35 of the segmental band 2 l The latch 58 is comprised of the pivoted tongue member 35 which has pivotally connected thereto one end of the latch link mem-- ber 36. As shown in Fig. 3, the opposite end or" the link member 36 is adapted to engage the stud 31 which is integrally connected to the base plate The end 3! of the .4.

member 40 on which is mounted the thermostatic control element l5. The base plate member 40 is provided with openings in the respective corners thereof to receive the screw threaded ends of studs 4| which are integrally welded to the water tank 2 in the same manner as heretofore described for the studs 16. The plate member is rigidly connected to the studs M by means of nuts 43.

The tongue member 35 of the latch 30 conveniently is adapted to be maintained in latched position by means of the pin 45. The pin 45 extends through matching openings in the pair of lugs 46 which are formed on the metal plate 32 and project on opposite sides of the tongue member 35. The pin 45 is adapted to overlie the end of the tongue member 35 to prevent accidental movement of the tongue member 35 to unlatching position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the link member 36 of the latch 35! is adapted to engage the stud which is integrally welded directly to the water container 2 in the same manner as the studs 15.

The thermostatic control element 15 indicated in the drawings is of the direct contact type which is adapted to be mounted in contact with, or in close proximity to, the outer surface of the water container. The thermostatic control element 15 controls the energization of the electric heating element 5 to maintain the water in the water container 2 at a predetermined temperature. The means disclosed herein for mounting the thermostatic control element l5 on the exterior of the water container 2 is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 35,491 filed June 26, 1948.

Operation The principal feature of my invention is that it enables a relatively unskilled serviceman to replace an inoperative electric heating element of an electric water heater in but a few minutes time, as compared with the considerable length of time required to replace an electric heating element in any of the prior art electric water heater constructions.

To replace the electric heating element 5 in an electric water heater embodying my invention; the serviceman removes the pin 45 which permits the latch tongue 35 to be moved to disengage the latch link member 36 from the stud 3! indicated in Fig. 3 (or from the stud 5%} in the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 6). With the latch 35 open, the end 3! of the segmental band 2| and the electric heating element 5 are free to be moved as a unit away from the water container 2. However, the other end 23. of the segmental band 2| remains securely held on the studs 16 integrally welded to the water container 2.

The serviceman then disconnects the electrical conductors :2 from the electric heating element 5 and merely withdrawingly slides the electric heating element 5 from the segmental band 2| until the lugs 2'! of the electric heating element 5 are free from engagement with the segmental band 2i. The lugs 2i of a new electric heating element 5 are then slid over the end 3| of the segmental band 2i, and the new electric heating element 5 readily slid into proper position on the segmental band 2i. The electrical connectors l2 are connected to the new electric heating element and the link 36 of the segmental band latch 30 is again hooked over the stud 35 (or the stud 50) and the latch Bil moved to closed position. The

' pin 45 is then restored to its position in which it overlies the end of the latch tongue member 35. Accordingly, the new electric heating element is readily and facilely positioned in contact with the surface of the water container 2 in the same location on the water container 2 as was the electric heating element which was removed.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric water heater comprising a tank; fastening means integrally connected to said tank; a removable electric heating element adapted to be positioned on and extend partly around the exterior of said tank; a segmental flexible band rig idly connected at one end to said fastening means, said segmental flexible band being of a length substantially co-extensive with said electric heating element and adapted to overlie and hold said electric heating element in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank; second fastening means rigidly connected to said tank and spaced apart from said first named fastening means; and connecting means adapted to releasably connect the other end of said segmental flexible band to said second fastening means; whereby, said electric heating element is adapted to be held securely in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank when said connecting means is in connected position on said second fastening means, and said electric heating element is adapted to be removed when said connecting means is in unconnected position.

2. An electric water heater comprising a tank; studs integrally welded to said tank; a removable electric heating element adapted to be positioned on and extend partly around the exterior of said tank; a segmental flexible band rigidly connected at one end to said studs, said segmental flexible band being of a length substantially co-extensive with said electric heating element and adapted to overlie and hold said electric heating element in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank; a latch stud rigidly connected to said tank; and latch means connected to said segmental flexible band and adapted to releasably connect the other end of said segmental flexible band to said latch stud; whereby, said electric heating element is adapted to be held securely in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank when said latch means is in connected position on said latch stud, and said electric heating element is adapted to be removed when said latch means is in unconnected position.

3. An electric water heater comprising a tank; studs integrally welded to said tank; a removable electric heating element adapted to be positioned on and extend partly around the exterior of said tank; a segmental flexible metallic band rigidly connected at one end to said studs, said segmental band being of a length substantially coextensive with said electric heating element and adapted to overlie and hold said electric heating element in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank; slidable means adapted to releasably connect said electric heating element to said segmental band; a latch stud rigidly connected to said tank; and latch means connected to said segmental band and adapted to releasably connect the other end of said segmental band to said latch stud; whereby, said electric heating element is adapted to be held securely in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank when said latch means is in connected position on said latch stud, and said electric heating element is adapted to be removed when said latch means is in unconnected position.

4. An electric water heater comprising a tank; studs integrally welded to said tank; a removable electric heatin element adapted to be positioned on and extend partly around the exterior of said tank; a segmental flexible metallic band rigidly connected at one end to said studs, said segmental band being of a length substantially co-extensive with said electric heating element and adapted to overlie and hold said electric heating element in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank; slidable lug means on said electric heating element adapted to releasably connect said electric heating element to said segmental band; a latch stud integrally welded to said tank; and latch means connected to said segmental band and adapted to releasably connect the other end of said segmental band to said latch stud; whereby, said electric heating element is adapted to be held securely in predetermined position on the exterior of said tank when said latch means is in connected position on said latch stud, and said electric heating element is adapted to be removed when said latch means is in unconnected position.

CLIFFORD F. T. HOOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,244,817 Willson Oct. 30, 1917 1,321,462 Line Nov. 11, 1919 1,645,230 Corlew et a1. Oct. 11, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 75,859 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1917 82,021 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1919 208,911 Switzerland May 16, 1940 392,014 Germany Feb. 12, 1938 381,906 Germany Nov. 2, 1920 

